Printing press



Aug. s, 1944.

F. R. BELLUCHE PRINTING PRESS Filed May 9, 1941 9, n E l Q Aug. s, 1944.

- F. R. BELLUCHE PRINTING PRESS Filed May 9, 1941 3 SheetS-Shee'tl 2 fwn/f EEP/Zum@ F. R. BELLUCHE Aug. s, 1944'.

PRINTING PRESS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 9, 1941 Patented Aug. 8, 1944 PRINTING PRESS- Frank R. Belluche, Racine, Wis., assigner to The Christensen Machine Company, Racine, Wis., a

corporation of Wisconsin Y Application May 9, 1941, Serial No. 392,637 12 claims. (o1. 10i-23o) This invention relates to printing presses and has a general object to provide an improved press so designed that an output considerably higher than that heretofore obtainable may be maintained while the linear speed of the sheets through the press is well within the limit set by good printing requirements.

Until recent advances in feeder design the outl put of a press was limited by the speed of the feeder. This led to the development of a two sheet rotary press fed by two separate feeders, each feeding to one of two sets of plates carried by a common plate cylinder. Although this two sheet rotary press was devised and placed on the market twenty years ago, it is still considered the fastest press available for high class printing.

By high class printing is meant the printing of better magazines and the like where multicolor work is required as distinguished from. newspaper and similar cheap printing.

The two sheetrotary press above referred to prints a sheet 52" by 80". Its. capacity is 5,600 sheets per hour. Each feeder thus operates at a speed of 2,800 sheets per hour which is 46% sheets per minute per feeder. One revolution prints two sheets but the cylinders of this press are 38.197" in diameter which means that for each revolution, there is a foot sheet travel. Hence, the printing speed or the linear speed of the sheets through the press is 462/3 times 10 or 466% feet per minute. f

While this 'printing'speed is still within the limit set by good printing requirements, it is always desirable to keep the printing speed down to ay minimum and a reduction below the stated speed of 466% feet per minute would be highly desirable. f At'high printing speeds centrifugal force throws oil.' the ink so that good impression is difiicult to obtain.

Heretofore, as illustrated by the foregoing description of the fastest' press now available for `high class printing, increase in press output entailed higher printing speeds and as/ feeders are now capable of successfully feeding sheets at speeds considerably higher than the output of the fastest press now available for high class printing, it follows that unless the press is so designed that increase in output does not entail higher printing speeds press outputs cannot match the'speed of present day feeders.

It is, therefore, the purpose of this invention to provide a press of novel design whereby a total press output equivalent to the sum of the sheets fed by a plurality of feeders serving the press may be maintained not only without increasing the linear speed of the sheets through the press but actually at a reduction of printing speed.

Generally speaking, this desideratum is achieved by providing a press having a single plate cylinder carrying one set of plates and cooperating with two vimpression cylinders to form two printing couples to which sheets are fed at the high speeds of which feeders are now i capableand from which sheets are carried to separate delivery mechanisms.

With the above and other objects in lview which will appear as the description proceeds, this invention resides inthe novel construction, combination and arrangement of plrrts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended'claims, it being understood that such changes "in the precise embodiment of the -hereindisclosed invention may be made as comewithin the scope of the claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate several complete examples of the physical embodiment of the invention constructed according to the best modes 'so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

` Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a press embodying one form of this invention;

Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 are views similar to Figvure 1 but with the feeders and delivery mechanisms differently arranged; and

offset press.

While the different embodiments of the invention shown'in the drawingsv to which referencey is now made have the feeders and delivery mechanisms arranged dift'erently with relation to each other and the press per se, in each instance a single plate cylinder 5 is suitably journalled in the frame 6 of the press. Except for the offset press shown in Figure 6 two impression cylinders '7 and 8 are journalled in the frame of the press; the former above and the" i pendently supported in any suitable manner as by the frame portions shown as horizontal rails I and IB to enable each inking motion to be separately racked back.

,The form rolls of each inking motion are also arranged to be automatically tripped out of contact with the plate cylinder by means of conventional tripping mechanism (not shown).

In all embodiments of the invention a separate feeder and delivery mechanism is provided for each printing couple. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1 a feeder I1 of the continuous type feeds sheets to the upper printing couple along the paper line or path I8. The sheets printed on the upper couple are carried to a delivery mechanism indicated generally by the numeral I9 by means of a suitable conveyor 20.

A sheet feeder 2| similar to the feeder I1 serves the lower printing couple, the sheets traveling thereto along the line or path 22. The sheets printed thereat are carried to a second delivery mechanismvindicated generally by the numeral 23 by means of a conveyor 24.

In this embodiment of the invention both delivery mechanisms are at one end of the entire machine behind the feeder I1. As a consequence, the conveyor 20 which takes sheets from the upper printing couple is overhead and crosses the feeder I1 and the delivery mechanism 23 while the conveyor 24 which receives sheets from the lower printing couple travels under the feeder I1 to the mechanism 23.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 2 ,the

feeders4 are in the same relative positions with respect to the press as in Figure 1 but the delivery mechanism I9 instead of being behind the delivery 23 is behind the feeder 2I. Hence, the conveyor `2li which carries the sheets from the upper couple extends across the feeder 2I.

In Figure 3 another arrangement of feeders and delivery mechanisms is illustrated. As here shown, the delivery 23 which receives the sheets from the lower printing couple is located between the feeder I1 and the press so that the path I8 of the sheets traveling from the feeder I1 to the upper printing couple is over the delivery 23. The delivery I9 is at the same end of the ensemble as in Figure 1 but directly adjacent to the feeder I1. a

In Figure 4 the feeder I1 which feeds the upper printing couple is located above the delivery mechanism 23 while the feeder 2I, as in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 2, is between the press and the delivery I9.

Figure 5 illustrates the feeders and `deliv eries arranged in still another fashion. In this case the feeder I1 is behind the delivery 23 while the feeder 2| is between the delivery I9 and the press.

Figure 6 illustrates the application of the invention to an offset press as noted hereinbefore, but otherwise the arrangement of the various components is like that shown in Figure 1.

To illustrate the exceptional results capable with this invention. the following figures are given as illustrative of one embodimentof the invention:

For a press which will accommodate the same size of sheet as the two sheet rotary press hereinbefore mentioned, namely 52" by 80 and for a total output of 8,000 sheets per hour the following gures apply: l

l. Each feeder feeds sheets at 4,000 per hour which is 66% sheets per minute for each feeder.

2. One revolution prints two sheets, but the diameter of the cylinders is only 2,1" and as a consequence, for each revolution there is but 51/2 feet of sheet travel.

3. The printing speed in feet per minute thus, is 66% (sheets per minute per feeder) times 51/2 feet (sheet travel per revolution) which equals 366% feet per minute. This, it will be seen is feet per minute less than the printing speed of the press mentioned hereinbefore while the total output is 2,400 shets per hour greater.

Consequently, as compared tothe fastest type of press presently known, this invention achievesy As noted hereinbefore, the form rolls of the inking motions are arranged to be tripped automatically in the conventional manner. vThe impression cylinders are likewise adapted to be tripped out of contact with the plate cylinder.`

The specific manner in which the impression cylinders and form rolls of the inking motions are tripped forms no part of this invention and as such means are well-known, they have not 4 been shown.

The tripping mechanism for each impression cylinder and the form rolls of its associated inking motion are controlled by a trip finger or anyl equivalent trigger mechanism arranged in the path of the sheets from the feeder serving that particular impression cylinder. To this extent the tripping fof the impression cylinder and the form rolls of its respective inking motion follows common practice, but it is important to observe Vthat the automatic trip for each impression cylinder and respective form rolls is controlled by its own trip finger and that the tripping of one printing couple in nowise affects the functioning of the other. Hence, improper sheet presentation to one printing couple does not necessitate complete sh'ut-down ofthe press. The other printing couple continues to function without interference.

From the foregoing description taken in oonnection with the accompanying drawings it will be readily apparent Vthat this invention presents for the first time a press suitable for high class printing which will turn out more and better work than any press heretofore available.

To those skilled in the art it will alsov be apparent that the present invention has a very desirable advantage from the standpoint of perfecting sheets for it enables perfecting by the same set of plates in a much shorter time than has heretofore been possible.V This follows from the folldwing novel method of handling the sheets where perfecting it to be done.

In this case the blank sheets are loaded on both feeders in the manner hereinbefore described so that both printing couples turn out sheets printed on one side. When enough sheets have been printed on one side and have had time to dry sulciently to permitbeing re-fed, the one-side-printed sheets are reversed and loaded on one of the feeders to be fed to and perfected by one of the printing couples while the other printing couple continues to print blank sheets on one side. Afterv the required number of blank sheets have been printed and during while time finished work is being turned out by one of the deliveries, the other feeder is also used to perfect sheets. The job is, thus, completed within a short time as compared to methods previously practiced.

What I claim as my invention:

1. In a printing press the combination of: two separate sheet feeders, eachv operable to take sheets from a source of supply and feed them to the press at a predetermined maximum number of sheets per unit of time; a single plate cylinder; two impression cylinders co-acting with the plate. cylinder to form two printing 1 remainder of the press.

couples one for each feeder; means for transferring the sheets fed by each feeder to its printing couple; and a separate delivery mechanism to receive sheets from each printing couple, so that a total press output may be maintained twice the maximum number of sheets per unit .of time fed by one feeder while the linear speed of the sheets through the press is held within y \the limit set by good printing requirements.

2. In a printing press, the combination of:

a plurality of wholly independent sheet feeders, each operable to feed sheets in succession at a l predetermined maximum number per unit of time; a single plate cylinder; a plurality of impression cylinders cooperable Withthe plate cylinder to form a number of printing couples equivalent to the number of sheet feeders; means for conveying the sheets from each feeder to its printing couple; a separate delivery mechanism receiving sheets from each printing couple, so that the number of sheets printed by the press per unit of time may be equivalent to the sum of the'maximums of the sheet feeders while the linear speed of the sheets through the printing couples is within the limit set by good printing requirements; and a separate automatic vtrip for each printing couple for rendering it in operative without in anywise effecting the functioning of the remainder of the press.

3. In a printing press, the lcombination of: a plurality of Wholly independent sheet feeders, each operable to feed sheets in succession at a predetermined maximum number per unit of time; a single plate cylinder; a plurality of impression cylinders cooperable with the plate c.vl inder, to form a number of printing. couples equivalent to the number of sheet feeders; means for conveying the sheets from each feeder to its printing couple; a separate delivery mechanism receiving sheets from each printing couple, soy

that the number of sheets .printed by the press per unit of time may be equivalent to the sum ofthe maximums of the sheet feeders while' the linear speed of the sheets throughthe printing couple is within the rlimit set by good printing requirements; a separate inking mechanism for inking a plate on the plate cylinder as it enters each printing couple; and an automatic trip for each printing couple controlled by the passage of sheets thereto for automatically rendering the printing couple inoperative and retracting its inking mechanism from the plate cylinder with- 4. In a printing press, the combination of: a plurality of entirely separate sheet feeders, each operable to take sheets from a source of supply and feed them to the press in succession at a predetermined maximum number of sheets per unit of time; a single plate ,cylinder carrying a single set of plates so that a complete revolution of the plate cylinder is required for one impression; a printing couple for each sheet feeder, all of said printing couples using the single set of plates; a separate inking mechanism operable to ink the single set of plates'just prior to its arrival at each printing couple; means for transferring the sheets fed each feeder to its printing couple; 'and a separate .delivery mechanism for receiving the sheets printed by each printing couple so that a total output for the press equivalent to the sumv of the sheets fed by all of the feeders may be maintained while the linear speed'of the sheets through the press is well within the limit set by good printing requirements.

5. In a printingpress, the combination of: a single plate cylinder carrying a single set of plates vso that a complete revolution of the plate cylinder is required for one impression; two impression cylinders cooperating with the plate cylinder to form two separate printing couples; two entirely separate sheet feeders, one foreach printing couple and each operable to take sheets fromv a separate source of supply and feed them to its printing couple; and two separate delivery mechanisms each receiving sheets from one printing couple and both arranged to the rear of one of,

ing\couple and each operable to take sheets from y a separate source of supply and feed them to its printing couple; and two separate delivery mechanisms each receiving sheets from one printing couple, one delivery mechanism being positioned between one sheet feeder and its printing couple and the other delivery mechanism being positioned behind one of the feeders. f

7. In a printing press, the combination of: a single plate cylinder carrying a single set of plates so that a complete revolution of the plate cylinder is required for one impression; two impression cylinders cooperating with the plate cylinder to form two separate printing couples; two entirely separate sheet feeders, one for each printing couple and each operable to take sheets from a source of supply and feed them to its printing couple; two lseparate delivery mechanisms each receiving sheets from one printing couple and both located tothe rear of one of the sheet feeders'; a conveyor leading from one printing couple to one delivery mechanism and passing beneath said sheet feeder; and a conveyor for carrying V separate sheet feeders, each feeding sheets to one printing couple; and two separate delivery mechanisms each receiving sheets from one printing couple and one of said delivering mechanisms being positioned behind each sheet feeder.

9. In a printing press, the combination of: one plate cylinder adapted to carry a single set of v plates so that a complete revolution of `the plate cylinder is required for one impression; two impression cylinders arranged on opposite sides of said plate cylinder so that the single set of plates makes two successive impressions for each revolution of the plate cylinder; inking mechanisms arranged on opposite sides of the plate cylinder with one inking mechanism operable to ink the setV of plates as it moves toward one impression cylinder and the other inking mechanism operable to ink the set of plates as it moves toward the other impression cylinders; and independent means for retracting each inking mechanism from the plate cylinder.

10. In a printing press, the combination of: one plate cylinder adapted to carry a single set of plates so that a complete revolution of the plate cylinder is required for one impression; two lmpression cylinders arranged on opposite sides of said plate cylinder so .that the single set of plates makes two successive impressions for each revolution of the plate cylinder; inking mechanisms y arranged on opposite-sides of the plate cylinder with one inking mechanism operable to ink the set of plates as it moves toward one impression cylinder and the other inking mechanism operable to ink the set of plates as it moves toward the other impression cylinder; independent means for retracting each inking mechanism from the plate cylinder; and means for independently trip-4 ping each impression cylinder from the plate cylinder so that either printing couple may be ren; dered completely inoperative while the other printing couple continues to function.

11. In a printing press, the combination of: on plate cylinder carrying a single set of plates s that a complete revolution of the plate cylinde is required for one impression means cooperating with the plate cylinder to form a plurality of printing couples; means for automatically tripping one .printing couple without interfering with the functioning of the rest of the press; separate sheet feeding means for each printing couple "adapted to feed sheets thereto, and a separate delivery mechanism for each printing couple to receive sheets therefrom so that a total press output equal to the sum of the sheets fed by the feeding means may be maintained while the linear speed of the sheets through the press is within the limit set by good printing requirements.

12. In the'printing art the method of perfecting sheets which comprises: starting blank sheets on two feeders both of which feed to a single press having two printing couples using a common plate cylinder with a single set of plates; allowing the one-side-printed sheets to dry sufllciently to be re-fed; reversing and loading the one-side- 'printed sheets on one of the feeders to be fed to and perfected by one of the printing couples while the other printing couple continues tov print blank sheets; and using both feeders for perfecting upon completion of the printing of the blank sheets. FRANK R. BELLUCHE. 

